01.09.09 Lexus Hybrid Power Leads the Pack

Tuesday, 01 September 2009

LEXUS HYBRID POWER LEADS THE PACK

Lexus GS 450h – the world’s first volume production performance hybrid sedan – has become Australia’s first hybrid pace car.

GS 450h will become Eastern Creek Raceway’s permanent safety car and was chosen for its outstanding power, acceleration and cruising abilities.

Eastern Creek Raceway Chief Executive, Geoff Arnold, said that GS 450h surpasses the requirements for a pace and safety vehicle.

"GS 450h is an amazing vehicle – the combination of petrol and electric drivetrains delivers blistering acceleration, enabling us to respond quickly to on track incidents,

"The Lexus hybrid system also has a couple of other benefits over previous safety vehicles – we can leave the vehicle running in pit lane without using fuel during a race, and because the car is whisper quiet, in-car communication to race control is much easier.

"On the whole, GS 450h has the power, handling and driving features that make it an ideal safety car – and an ideal daily driver," said Mr Arnold.

Lexus Australia Chief Executive, John Roca, said that GS 450h as a safety car is a rolling showcase of hybrid technology.

"Lexus’s GS 450h was the first performance hybrid introduced to the Australian market, and almost five years on it remains the hybrid power pioneer.

"GS 450h is quite simply a fantastic vehicle – it drives exactly like any road going vehicle, with the added benefits of rapid acceleration, whisper quiet cruising and outstanding fuel economy,

"Our partnership with Eastern Creek is a great way to showcase Lexus’ hybrid range of vehicles and demonstrate its compromise free mix of economy and power," said Mr Roca.

Lexus GS 450h features a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, paired to an electric motor system, delivering 254kW of power, while using 7.9 litres of fuel per 100km*.

The powerful Lexus Hybrid Drive system propels GS 450h from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Lexus GS 450h safety car will make its debut at the annual Muscle Car Masters, held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway on September 6, 2009.

Apart from the safety car livery and safety car lights, GS 450h features no modifications over the road-going version.